Overview:  Students will design and construct a boat that can transport a load that weighs more than the boat itself.

Objectives 
In this lesson, students will: 
· Design and construct an aluminum foil boat

Time Frame 
45-minute session

Materials
1. Aluminum foil (one-inch sq. per student)
2. Pinto beans, pennies, or ceramic 1” tile squares
3. Children’s wading pool
4. Water for pool 

Procedure
1. Guide class in a discussion of boat construction from aluminum foil.
2. Give students a one-inch square of foil with which to construct their boat.
3. Completed boats should be placed in water to see if they are balanced and will float.
4. Students select pinto beans, pennies, or ceramic 1” tile squares to place in their boats recording the largest number of the item their boat can hold without sinking.  Discuss displacement, balance, and ballast as students attempt this task.